Customer Reviews

Knit and Crochet Combined

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Knitting and crocheting are usually seen as two distinctly different and separate needlecraft skills. Now needlecraft expert and project designer Monnette Lassiter Satterfield draws upon her many years of experience and expertise to provide a compendium of fifteen 'do-it-yourself' patterns that combine both knitting and crocheting to create wonderfully colorful, useful, and sturdy garments and accessories that are veritable works of fabric art. The projects range from stoles and wraps, to shrugs and vests, to hats and socks. Superbly illustrated in full color, each project features easy knit and crochet patterns stitches that can be accomplished by even the most novice of needlecraft beginners. A unique and core addition to any personal, professional, or community library Neelecraft reference collection, "Knit & Crochet Combined: Best Of Both Worlds" is enhanced with a 'Basics" section that provides a guide to materials and illustrates every stitch and technique required by the proffered projects.

The title is promising: Knit and Crochet Combined -- Best of Both Worlds.
Except that, from the evidence in this book, it isn't the best of either.

Knitters have always used crochet to finish and accent their work;
crocheters, I suspect, have had less use for knitting. Bringing the two fiber crafts together into a hybrid seems to make sense -- both are, after all, variations on the theme of looping yarn together to make fabric. Using the two in the same garment should expand the creative horizons of both knitters and crocheters. The idea is interesting; the execution falls flat.

In most of this book's 15 projects, the open, curving look of crochet fights with the more formal rows of knitting. A hat with a soft floppy brim (the kind that falls annoyingly into your eyes) is topped with crocheted circles: it's neither fish nor fowl nor attractive. The glittery yarn chosen for the thing does not help its cause. Who would wear such an item, and where? An openwork cardigan, crocheted in floral motifs, is weighed down by the solidity of its stockinette sleeves, which are sewn awkwardly to the armhole like afterthoughts. A pair of magenta tube socks with ill-fitting toes are topped by a wide cuff of chartreuse eyelash yarn. A sleek ribbed vest gets an unharmonious collar of crocheted astrakhan stitch, which the author says cannot be duplicated easily in knitting. She's right, but the bulky,lumpy collar still looks wrong on the minimalist gray vest.

I gave the book two stars instead of one because of two patterns that, to my eye, do work: a crocheted shell-stitch skirt with a knitted yoke, and a jacket whose body, crocheted in a single crochet variant, works well with its knitted sleeves, hood and front bands. In these projects, the knit and crochet sections complement each other and give an idea of what combining the two techniques can accomplish.

25 pages of the 96-page book are padding: basic how-tos, yarn weight charts, etc. The 15 patterns are each spread out over 4 pages. All the designs are made up in Lion Brand yarns, which would lead me to believe that this is a quickie book published by Lion to capitalize on the current boom of interest in crochet.

I often combine knitting and crocheting in the same project. Crochet edgings are great to accent many knitted projects, and no crochet ribbing can equal knitted ribbing. So I was delighted to see this book, until I looked inside. I think the projects are mostly unappealing and look dated.

When you take the best from knitting and crochet you enter a world of intricate beauty. The knitted items in this book are enhanced with an artistic creativity. The projects include:

Matching Hat and Scarf
Playful 70s "Flower" Cap
Stunning Stole - add color to any outfit with this gorgeous designed shawl
Retro Loop Boot Toppers
Easy Tubey Socks
Purse made with thick yarns for durability, but looks pretty in lavender with
multicolored yarn details
Summer Vest - half knitting/half crochet
Winter Vest
Tropical Summer Shrug
Victorian Capelet
Warm Jacket

The book is for anyone who wants to make a fashion statement. The items are all unique and with your choice of colors, they will be a one-of-a-kind miracle. This book combines techniques and also gives step-by-step pictures and instructions for each project.

The full-color photography with each project makes all the projects look very appealing and a guide to materials and techniques makes the project possible.

~The Rebecca Review